Your Go To Guide for Sustainable Yoga Clothes

When we think of yoga most of us think of the physical practice (Asanas in Sanskrit). There is so much more to yoga than just that though! 

Thousands of years ago yoga was created as a meditative and spiritual practice. The purpose was to help practitioners cultivate awareness between mind and body. Today in the West, the physical side of yoga is front and center while little attention is paid to the spiritual aspects of the practice. 

 So how does sustainability tie into yogic philosophy and specifically yoga clothes? 

The Practice of Ahimsa 

There are eight limbs of yoga that shape the yogic practice. One of the eight limbs is called Yamas which focuses on self regulation and our ethics. One part of the Yamas is Ahimsa which roughly translates to no harm. 

This can be interpreted in many ways including not doing harm to oneself, others, the planet, animals etc.

Ahimsa is meant to be practiced on and off your mat. 

The Bottom Line

If we want to sustain life on this planet we need to practice Ahimsa. We cannot continue taking from the land, poisoning it and using its resources to no return. 

If we want to sustain ourselves we also have to take care of ourselves. This can be through movement (Asanas) and choosing non-toxic clothing i.e. nontoxic yoga clothes. 

If we want to sustain our communities we need to pay living wages, have safe working conditions and create beautiful and meaningful pieces that are made to last. 

Although our current fashion system is not producing clothes in the most ethical ways there are alternatives!

There are ways to practice Ahimsa in terms of sustainable yoga clothes and I put together a little guide to help you on your journey.  

Where to start with sustainable yoga clothes 

My go to rule when trying to live a more sustainable life is to use what you already have or use items that have already been produced. This saves you money and the earth’s resources. 

Wear clothes you already have (Yoga clothes can be anything!) 

The best place to start is with what you already have. 

If you want to refresh your yoga clothes you may want to start by expanding what you view as yoga clothes.

 The westernization of yoga has made it seem like leggings and a tank top are the only acceptable clothes to do yoga in.

That’s just not true. 

You can do yoga in any clothing that you feel comfortable in. Sweatpants, rompers, pajamas etc. You can wear literally whatever you want to do yoga. This is by far the most sustainable option because you already own the clothes and you are not consuming more resources by purchasing more items.  

Thrift

You knew it was going to be on the list! And for good reason.

90% of my yoga clothes have been thrifted.

I have even found popular brands i.e. Lululemon, Gaiam, Nike etc. at the thrift shop. I love good old fashion thrifting at Goodwill or Salvation Army. But also check out your local thrift shops too. 

One of the downsides to thrifting in person is that it is not always the most size inclusive option. An alternative to going to in person thrift stores with a limited size collection is checking out online options. 

If you are looking for something specific (size, color, brand style etc.) I highly recommend looking into thrifting apps. My favorites are Poshmark, Thred up and Depop. 

Some more helpful tips on “Quick list of Alternatives to Fast Fashion”

Trade with friends or hand me downs 

I used to LOVE getting hand me downs as a kid. As we get older it feels like there is somewhat of a stigma to seeing if any of your friends want to look through your giveaway bin before bringing them to the thrift store. 

I think that really needs to change. 

Clothing swaps are amazing because everyone leaves with a new treasure and then whatever is not picked can be donated. 

Clothing swap at a yoga studio 

This one could take a little bit more effort but it is worth a try!

If you belong to a yoga studio (or other fitness centers) it could be worth talking to the owner about starting a clothes swap. I have seen swaps be a bin near the check in desk or even an actual rack for clothes.

It could be a week long event and if it goes well it could be an ongoing opportunity for yogis at the studio! 

Feel free to send the studio owner this blog post too if you want! 

Where to buy new yoga clothes 

It is great to be able to reuse clothes before purchasing new but there are some amazing brands that are finding innovative ways to produce clothing. 

These are my top 3 favorite companies that are using sustainable practices to produce yoga clothes. 

Satva 

I actually just recently found out about this brand but I already love it and everything they stand for!

The company was started by an Indian woman that wanted non toxic and sustainable activewear options. They use organic fabric and it is produced in fair trade certified facilities.

A portion of proceeds goes to a nonprofit in India to support the livelihoods of organic farmers and educational opportunities for girls.

So not only do you get high quality and nontoxic activewear, you are also contributing to the well being of the people that produced your clothes and the community that the clothes are made in. 

You can find their sustainable yoga clothes here!

Indigo Luna 

I’m obsessed with the beautiful pieces made by Indigo Luna! They all have an earthy cozy vibe that just looks like a warm hug. To be honest I have not worn their pieces yet but it is on my list! (I have just had major luck with thrifting).

Indigo Luna’s pieces are handmade in Bali, Indonesia in a woman run factory where the artisans are treated ethically. They use ECONYL® fabric from regenerated nylon waste to make their products (aka trash turns into leggings). The fabric dyes are made from local plants so it is natural and safe for the planet and yourself.

They even use biodegradable cassava bags instead of plastic bags to package their products. Indigo Luna checks all the boxes of ethically made, sourced and packaged yoga clothes!  

You can find their sustainable yoga clothes here!

Girlfriend Collective 

Their claim to fame is being active wear made from recycled water bottles! Pretty cool, ya?

They have really expanded from solely leggings to now selling swimsuits, scrunchies, loungewear etc. They also offer a range of sizes from XXS to 6XL so they are the most size inclusive on this list. Lastly they just came out with a men’s line.

Not only are their products made out of recycled waste but you can also send your leggings back to them through their ReGirlfriend program and they will recycle the leggings! 

*I also wanted to add that yes, these brands are on the pricier side. It is important to remember that you are paying for the ethical treatment of artisans, high quality and non toxic fabrics and intentionally created pieces. I really feel like a lot of love and intention went into these clothes and who wouldn’t want to be wrapped up in that while practicing yoga? 

You can find their sustainable yoga clothes here!

Yoga is so much more than just the physical practice and through learning about yogic philosophy we can expand our view of the ancient practice.

Through this expanded awareness we can do our part in protecting the environment and the people that create clothing. Yes, even if just by buying sustainable yoga clothes. It is not the complete answer but it is a start. 

Where is your favorite place to shop for yoga clothes? I would love to hear in the comments below! 

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Stay well, 

Maggie